Gabriela Balda, an artist from Guayaquil, who graduated in graphic design and advertising at ESPOL, found in social networks an opportune means of diffusion for her works. The young artist shares her evolution in art. She also teaches art class to children and adults, an activity that was born as a result of the pandemic, which has allowed her to show her work, share her experience and knowledge with several students.
How do you define your professional career?
I see it as a big tree in which each branch is an opportunity to learn and follow a different path, but born from the same tree. Within the degree in graphic design and advertising I learned a little bit of so many things, that in the end my classmates and I decided only for one branch to follow our path, and continue learning on our own.
What stands out about your artistic career?
It is a career full of life and color. At first, I didn't think I would become a full-time painter. At the end of my career, I discovered that I was passionate about painting and that I could develop very well in the artistic world.
What has your artistic process been like?
In the early years, I dedicated myself more to abstract art. I painted floral works upon request. Then I started painting animals native to Galapagos, because of a request I had for a hotel. As the years went by, my skills improved. I was able to compare works from my beginnings with other more current ones, and today I continue to learn and improve.
What memories do you have of your time at ESPOL?
I started my studies at Espol when I was 16 years old. I graduated at 21. I was a dedicated student, not the most dedicated, but I can say that I did not fail any subject and I finished my degree in 10 semesters. My first year I learned drawing and painting at the Peñas Campus, then we were moved to the Prosperina Campus. I had subjects that were complicated, others were easier. I think that the years flew by and perhaps I was able to learn more during my studies.
What pictorial styles are reflected in your work?
For the last three years I have been working in the pop art style. My two self-portraits are in that style and after last year's self-portrait I started to paint other portraits upon request, in that same pictorial style.
What motivated you to start painting workshops for children and adults?
The online workshops are an idea that arose in the middle of the pandemic, in the middle of last year the sales of paintings were low, and I wanted to generate another source of income, without leaving art aside. First I announced a free class to see the reception of people. My surprise was to see that the most interested were children, when I thought I would see more young people. The class went very well, the children were very grateful. Then I presented another free class for Children's Day and promoted the sale of the first online art workshop. The children started to sign up and after several days, I started my first workshop with 13 students. Then, the workshops continued and I also had adults in my classes.
What stands out the most about being able to impart your talent?
I love sharing my knowledge with the kids and that they can discover their talent. It helps them strengthen their self-esteem, improve their fine motor skills, concentration and communication. For adults, it helps them de-stress, live in the present and express their emotions.
What challenges have the pandemic and the use of virtual media presented to show your art and continue with the workshops to the public?
With the boom of virtual classes, I saw an opportunity to teach art from home. These classes are more fun because they have no punctuation, we just learn and have fun. Something I can highlight is that I have kids in the workshops from other countries; Peru, Colombia, United States, Chile, among others. It really gives me a lot of pleasure to be able to share art with people from other countries, which is a very positive aspect of the online classes.
What do you enjoy painting the most and what was the motivation to choose art as a profession?
I like to paint works that reflect life, such as nature, landscapes and animals. In the online workshops I also like to teach. To choose art, I was motivated to do what I like, and to see that people liked my work; it also motivated me a lot to continue painting.
As an artist, what advice do you give to those students who are starting out in the art world and are looking to be recognized in this field?
Keep doing what you love. Show the process behind each work, make videos if possible, so little by little you will be known. Use all the social networks to position yourselves more quickly.
Tell us a little about your work "my city", what was the motivation for the realization of this work?
My city is a work painted at the end of March 2020, when in Guayaquil the number of Covid-19 cases increased significantly. The number of deaths was increasing more and more, and I was at home. I still had painting materials, I decided to paint my city full of colors, lights and life. It was a way to make art and give a message of strength to those who were going through difficult times.
To learn more about Gabriela Balda's artwork you can check out her Instagram @gabybalda.art
04/06/2021
